Though they share a name, the C7 Corvette Z06 and C8 Z06 couldn’t be much more different in many ways, including how they drive.
As Corvette enthusiasts are well aware, the C8 Z06 debuted to tremendous fanfare, and for quite some time, the potent, track-focused model remained in high demand and short supply. Thankfully, that has evened out in recent months, and one can now easily purchase a new Corvette Z06 at sticker price, rather than having to pay some additional markup. Regardless, there are also plenty of C7 Corvette Z06 owners out there wondering if the C8 is worth upgrading to – particularly given its higher cost of entry.
This question surfaced recently in the CorvetteForum forums, as C7 Corvette Z06 owner Monkey D. Luffy is seeking advice as to whether or not they should upgrade to a C8 Z06, as their current car has quite a lot of miles on it and is starting to have some teething issues as a result. As one might imagine, one of the bigger differences between these cars pertains to what lies under the hood, aside from the position that it’s mounted in – up front in the C7 Corvette Z06, and mid-ship in the C8.
The C7 Corvette Z06 utilizes the supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8, which produces 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, flowing to the wheels via either a Tremec seven-speed manual transmission or the 8L90 eight-speed automatic. As for the C8 Z06, it’s packing the naturally aspirated 5.5-liter LT6 V8, producing 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, which is mated exclusively to a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox.
As one might imagine, that big difference – coupled with the way these cars were designed – makes them quite different to drive. “I think the best way to describe it is the C8Z has more usable power than the C7Z,” said Yillbs. “The C8Z is a literal race car, and it drives like one. If you’re used to the C7Z’s mannerisms you won’t like the C8Z. You don’t start getting into the C7Z type power until above 5-6k rpm, it gets loud, and downright fun.”
The C7 Corvette Z06 is clearly the better stoplight-to-stoplight machine, given its copious amounts of low-end torque (if one can find traction), while the C8 version makes its power higher in the rev range. There’s also the fact that the earlier model can be had with a manual gearbox, which is quite appealing to some.
“I own both. I enjoy them both, equally,” said capevettes. “My C7Z is a seven-speed manual. C7 makes way more low end torque but if you keep the revs above 3,600 rpms, the C8Z just keeps pulling. The C8 just puts the power down better. The C7 wants to blow up the tires through first and second gear. On balance, the C8 is a more complete car, but the C7 is as much fun to drive. Paddle shifting the C8 in track mode is very engaging and the exhaust wails at high rpms. As said, you need to spend some time behind the wheel to make a proper decision.”
Ultimately, choosing between the C7 Corvette Z06 and C8 Z06 really just boils down to what you’re most interested in. While some feel like the C8 Z06 is a suitable road car, others may find it to be a bit harsh in those conditions, and perhaps they may not be able to fully take advantage of its capabilities – or, even get into the real meat of the power band. For them, the C7 Z06 may be a better choice, and it’s also worth mentioning that one can pick up one of those older cars for far less money, to boot.
